Bible reading & studying Isaiah 50-53
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music
Isaiah 52:13 -53:12 is one of the most
treasured and important passages in the O.T. These verses present the Servant
suffering vicariously for men’s sins. Traditional Jewish interpretation
understood the passage to be speaking of Messiah, as, of course, did the early
Christians, who believed Jesus to be that Messiah (Act.8:35). Not until the
twelfth century did the view emerge that the nations Israel is referred to, a
view that has since become dominant in Judaism, but the Servant is
distinguished from the “People” (53:8) and He is an innocent victim something
that could not be said of the nation. (53:9) the passage divides into five
sections of three verses each (1)52:13-15, (2) 53:1-3 (3) 53:4-6 (4) 53:7-9 (5)
53:10-12.[1]
Joy
and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
(Isaiah.51:3) The ransomed of the Lord will return they will enter Zion with
singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake
them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah.51:11). For this is what
the Lord days,” You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be
redeemed.” (Isiah52:3). Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our
sorrows. Yet we considered him stricken by God. (Isaiah53:4).
In
the Isaiah 52:13-15 the preeminence of the Servant. Raised and lifted up. The
same words are used of God in 6:1 (cf.Phil.2:9-11). As a result of the
mistreatment done Him by Pilate’s soldiers, Messiah’s appearance was so
disfigured (Isa.52:14) so that He could scarily be recognized as human. Because
of His sacrifice He would be able to sprinkle (v.15) many, as a priest does in
order to purify them. (1Pet1:2).[2]
“See, my
servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him-his appearance was so
disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness so
will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they
will understand.” (Isaiah52:13-15)
In
the Isaiah 53:1-3 the person of the Servant. The arm of the Lord (v.1)
represents the power of the Lord in past miracles and in the future miracles of
Messiah. Tender shoot (v.2) Lit., a suckling; i.e., frail (contrast11:1) root
out of dry ground (53:2), refers to Messiah’s lowly background. There would be
nothing in His personal appearance that would especially attract men to Him, He
would experience sorrows (lit. pains,v.3) but men would not recognize His
worth.
“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot and life a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”(Isaiah53:1-3)
In
the Isaiah 53:4-6 indicates the passion of the Servant. Though men would think
that God was causing the Servant to suffer for His own sins, the truth was that
He suffered vicariously for theirs. “Pierced”(v.5). A term appropriate to
crucifixion; “brought us peace” I.e., His punishment that obtained peace or
well-being for us.
“Surely he took up
our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was
pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and
the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)
In the Isaiah 53:7-9 shows the passivity of
the Servant. He didn’t open his mouth (v.7) which confirmed in the Matthew
26:63-64; Jesus did affirm His deity when placed under oath. Compare Isa.53:9
with Matt.27:57-60.
“He
was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a
lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did
not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the
living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a
grace with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, through he had done no
violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah53:7-9)
In
the Isaiah 53:10-12 indicates the portion of the Servant. His whole being,
including His soul(v.11), was involved in the offering (v.10) the word used in
Lev.6-7 of the guilt or trespass offering, which required 120 percent
restitution, Lev.6:5) His offspring (53:10) are those who would believe on Him.
To prolong his days after being made an offering would necessitate bodily
resurrection.
“ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and
cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he
will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will
prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life, and be satisfied; by his knowledge my
righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he
will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto
death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.”(Isaiah53:10-12)
Bibliography
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible
(NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
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